Cross Border Trade Updates
April 21, 2025
Click image to view gallery
- U.S. Tariff Negotiations
- On 19 April, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during a press conference that the United States is focusing tariff negotiations with the “big 15” economies. Newsweek reported that the world's 15 largest non-US economies, by gross domestic product (GDP) include China, Japan, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Russia, South Korea, Australia, Spain and Mexico. As trade deals are still being negotiated, it is unclear how packaging and processing machinery imports into the United States by PMMI members will be affected. Below is the latest news on trade negotiations:
- South Korea: South Korea is preparing for trade talks with the United States this week.
- Mexico: On 21 April, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said there’s no agreement yet with the United States, saying “we [President Sheinbaum and President Trump] didn’t reach an agreement, but we did establish our arguments”.
- UK: On 18 April, President Trump held a call with UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer where the two discussed bilateral trade, Russia’s war on Ukraine, and regional security in the Middle East.
- Italy: On 17 April, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with President Trump. President Trump said that there “will be a trade deal, 100%”, but no trade deal was reached during the meeting.
- Japan: On 16 April, Japan’s Chief Trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. A trade deal was not reached, but Japan will meet with the United States later this month to continue discussions.
- China: President Trump expects a trade deal to happen with China “over the next three to four weeks”. China has warned that it will retaliate against countries that make deals with the United States that will hurt their interests.
- India: Vice President JD Vance is in India this week to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a four-day visit to discuss a bilateral trade deal.
- Malaysia: Malaysia’s Trade Minister is traveling to the United States on 24 April to meet with USTR and other officials.
- Indonesia: Indonesia is preparing to complete trade negotiations with the United States in 60 days.
- U.S.-China Trade
- On 16 April, China imposed additional duties on imports from the U.S. of up to 125%, which would be their last tariff hike, after President Trump signed an Executive Order launching a Section 232 investigation into critical minerals and other derivative products.
- Imports from China now face up to 245% tariff (125% reciprocal + 20% IEEPA + Section 301 which ranges from 7.5% to 100%).
- Port fees for Chinese built or operations ships
- On 17 April, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced new fees on Chinese-built and Chinese-owned vessels at U.S. ports. Chinese-built and Chinese-owned ships now face fees calculated based on net tonnage per voyage into the United States. Phase 1 takes effect in 180 days and Phase 2 will be implemented in three years.
- Request to appear at the hearing opened on 17 April and closes on 8 May.
- Request for comments opened on 17 April and the deadline for submissions is 19 May.
- Legal Actions Against Trump’s Tariffs
- On 16 April, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s use of emergency powers to enact tariffs.
- On 15 April, the Justice Department asked courts to consolidate all litigation over President Trump’s recent International Economic Emergency Powers Act tariffs (IEEPA) into one case before the U.S. Court of International Trade.
- On 14 April, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s authority to unilaterally issue the “Liberation Day” tariffs, stating that they are hurting small businesses across the United States.
- Actions at the World Trade Organization (WTO)
